The police and probation services are investigating the circumstances which resulted in an eight-year-old boy suffering second-degree burns to his chest.

Akeem James of 263 Samatta Point, Grove, East Bank Demerara was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital on July 23 after being scalded on his chest apparently as punishment for losing $500 which he had been given to purchase chicken. Akeem's mother, who was held by the police and subsequently released, has denied this. She claimed that he accidentally came into contact with a stove.

According to reports, the child had been flogged twice prior to being dowsed with a hot liquid and was made to suffer other forms of punishment including kneeling as well as being barred from leaving his Grove home.

Speaking with Stabroek News yesterday Akeem's father Anthony James who is estranged from the boy's mother said he learned of the situation on July 23, when his mother (Akeem's grandmother), who also lives at Grove, called to inform him of the child's condition.

James said his mother had only just become aware of her grandson's condition as he had escaped from his home while his mother was away and had gone to see his grandmother.

The man said he immediately informed the relevant authorities and took his son to the hospital. A report was made to the police at Grove and later at the Probation and Welfare Office at the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security in Georgetown, where officers began addressing the matter.

A police source has confirmed that a report was made and they are currently investigating the matter.

James said that at the hospital his son was admitted suffering from second-degree burns to five percent of his chest. The child was hospitalised for five days and has since being discharged. He is currently in his father's care at 'B' Field, Sophia.

Stabroek News was shown a copy of the medical certificate as well as a photograph of the state of Akeem's chest following the scalding.

Police who took statements from both the child and James initially held the boy's mother, but later released her on station bail pending further action.

This newspaper understands that the mother claimed the lad had an accident with a stove at their Grove home. Akeem has denied this, asserting that boiling water from a flask was thrown on him after he lost the money.

James told Stabroek News that his son repeated this at a subsequent confrontation between him and the mother in the presence of both the police and probation authorities. (Oscar P. Clarke)